tributehub

We know most radio stations (Radio 3 excepted) compress the music so that there is less contrast between loud and quiet passages (perfect for listening in the car etc), but it is happening to CD's too.

I thought my hi-fi was sounding dodgy with recent releases, sonething was not quite right but I couldn't say what. The music sounded great to start with, but when the big bits kick in, it lacks balls and impact.



Obviously that is taking it to extremes to highlight the issue, but it illustrates the problem.
Do people care about the dynamic range of music?
When I first listened to Lark's Tongues in Aspic, I was suprised I had to turn the volume up, as the music seemed much quieter than other CD's. Then Robert Fripp made his entrance and pinned me to the wall  >. perfect

Muse - Absolution;  a great, great album, but where is the punch?

It happens on the TV too. Except when you watch movies on Sky+ that are broadcast using DD5.1. With those, you start watching, having cranked the volume up about 10 notches, then get blown through the window during the loud bits. Brilliant.

You'll also find the adverts are pumped up a notch too 
yes, fortunately my TV has s DRC option (dynamic range control) which makes evening DVD viewing much kinder on the kids and neighbours.
I don't mind compression on the radio, but they are slowly sucking the life out of CD's.
I suppose this is one of the reasons why some people prefer the vinyl originals to CD re-releases.

going slightly off topic but what annoys me on the radio are the commercial stations that speed up tracks, only by a  few % perhaps but speeded up none the less. Presumably this is so they can fit the same number tracks in a shorter time and hence more ads in ? I know it's business but it's still bloody annoying

We take a dim view of that.

Interesting points have been raised here......just don't forget that these days the music business is more about  moving product units and watching the cash on the bottom line ,never mind quality and genuine production values.
  Its almost an accident if any particular CD is actually any good.
                    Then the record company's have the cheek to complain that sales are going down.
    Enigma you've hit upon the reason why time and time again I keep going back to my vinyl collection.